Vane motor with brake

ABSTRACT

A vane motor comprises a casing and a vane rotor being mounted in the casing. A friction brake device is arranged in the casing and it is intended for braking, stopping and releasing the vane rotor. At least one of the two end faces of the vane rotor is part of the brake device and forms a friction pair with a braking surface of a brake element of the brake device. The brake element is arranged next to the said end face of the vane rotor and is axially movable upon actuation of the friction brake device for braking, stopping and releasing the vane rotor.

The invention relates to a vane motor, comprising a casing and a vanerotor mounted in the casing, having a friction brake device which isarranged in the casing and is intended for braking, stopping andreleasing the vane rotor.

Such vane motors have been known for a long time and are preferablyoperated with compressed air, but also with hydraulic fluid. They areused, for example, in lifting appliances. They have proved to bereliable and robust in everyday operation. In mining, for example, theiruse is preferred to electric motors, since no separate measures have tobe taken for explosion protection.

In general, the vane motor comprises a casing and a vane rotor mountedin the casing. The vane rotor in turn comprises, in addition to a shaft,a rotor body with rotor slots in which individual vanes are mounted soas to be radially displaceable relative to the axis of the vane rotor.The vane rotor itself is arranged in the vane motor in a cylinder liner,the rotary spindle of the vane rotor being arranged eccentrically to thelongitudinal center axis of the cylinder liner and being mounted in sidedisks. In continuous operation, the centrifugal force acting on thevanes and possibly assisted by spring elements ensures that each vanebears against the inner wall of the cylinder liner, so that only minimumleakage losses occur between the narrow running surfaces of the vanesand the inner wall of the cylinder liner. Further leakage losses arecaused by gaps at the side faces of the vane rotor and between theoutside diameter of the vane rotor and the inside diameter of thecylinder liner.

Furthermore, the vane motor has integrated in its casing a frictionbrake device, which is provided for braking, stopping and releasing thevane rotor. This friction brake device consists, for example, of a brakedisk having at least one brake shoe displaceable against the end facesof the brake disk, the brake disk being arranged with the brake shoe anda cylinder allocated to the brake shoe in a separate space of thecasing, and the brake disk being mounted on an extension journal of therotor shaft.

The brake shoe itself is spring-loaded and designed in such a way thatit is more or less in frictional engagement with the brake disk bothwhen the vane motor is stopped and in the start-up phase of the vanemotor. To control the braking action of the friction brake device, afurther line is provided parallel to a feed passage to the vane rotorfor the pressure medium and ends in the space in which the brakecylinder for easing the friction brake device is arranged. By the actionof the pressure medium, which is fed to the vane rotor and passes viathe additional line into the said brake cylinder, the brake shoe isdisplaced against the spring force in axial direction, so that the brakedisk and thus also the vane rotor--depending on the operating state--areat least partly released. When the action of the pressure mediumdecreases, the brake shoe comes into contact with the brake disk again,with a corresponding braking action being produced, since the pressurein the said space also decreases.

On account of the complicated and varied components and the interplaybetween the vane rotor and the friction brake device, it is necessary toproduce the individual components very precisely. The manufacturing andassembly costs of the known vane motors are therefore relatively high.

On account of the friction brake device arranged next to the vane rotorin a separate casing chamber, the vane motor itself is of very largedimensions and, since a cast casing is usually used, is also relativelyheavy.

The two last-mentioned criteria make the handling of chain hoists moredifficult in certain fields of application.

The object of the invention is therefore to provide a vane motor whichcontains markedly fewer components than the known prior art in order tothus ensure more cost-effective manufacture of such a vane motor. Theaim is also to reduce the overall size and weight.

The principle for achieving the set object consists in assigningadditional functions to components already present in the vane motor inorder to thereby be able to dispense with other components. To this end,provision is made for the side disks, which are normally arrangeddirectly next to the vane rotor, to take over the braking function.Instead of the previous friction brake device in a separate space, afriction brake device is now to be arranged directly next to the vanerotor and is in frictional engagement with at least one of the two endfaces of the vane rotor both when the vane motor is stopped and in thestart-up phase of the vane motor. The brake device is consequentlyintegrated in the vane rotor.

The achievement of the object is characterized in that at least one (thefirst) of the two end faces of the vane rotor is part of the frictionbrake device and forms a friction pair with a braking surface of a brakeelement, which is arranged next to this first end face and is axiallymovable for actuating the friction brake device for braking or stoppingand releasing the vane rotor.

The construction of the vane motor is considerably simplified by theinvention. The weight and space requirement can be markedly reduced.Manufacture and assembly become easier and simpler. The manufacturingcosts are considerably reduced.

A further advantage consists in the fact that coarse productiontolerances are sufficient. Since the vane motor according to theinvention is a "floating" system, the axial position of the vane rotoris self-regulating and therefore automatically compensates for theproduction tolerances. Possible wear phenomena which occur on account ofthe rotation in the bearings or other components become partlyinsignificant as a result.

Furthermore, it is advantageous that the vane motor can be assembledfrom one side, since the separate casing chamber for the brake device isomitted.

If only one end face of the vane rotor is a part of the brake device byvirtue of the fact that one end face of the vane rotor forms a frictionpair with the braking surface of the axially displaceable brake element,a stop element fixed to the casing and intended for forming a slidingpair with the other (second) end face can be provided next to the otherside of the vane rotor, which stop element has a sliding surface facingthis end face. In this case, the braking of the vane rotor isconsequently effected only on one side, whereas the second end facehaving the stop element forms a plain bearing for absorbing inparticular axial forces.

Instead of the brake device which acts on one side, however, it ispreferable according to the invention for the vane rotor to be axiallydisplaceable, and for a stop element, which is designed like a brakedisk and so as to be in a fixed position, to be provided next to theother (second) end face of the vane rotor and to form a second frictionpair with the other end face. In this case, both end faces of the vanerotor are included in the brake device, so that a correspondinglyincreased and uniform braking action results.

The brake element is preferably pressed by the action of a braking forceagainst the braking surface of the first end face of the vane rotor, sothat, even though the other end face of the vane rotor is designed aspart of the brake device, a corresponding action of the braking force isalso obtained on the other side of the vane rotor on account of theaxial displaceability of the vane rotor.

In particular in the event of both end faces of the vane rotor beingprovided as parts of the brake device, in a development according to theinvention the vane rotor is designed and arranged in such a way that theaxially displaceable brake element is at least partly released from thefirst end face during the start-up operation of the vane motor by theaction of the pressure medium fed to the vane rotor, so that a gap formsbetween the brake element and the first end face, and the brake devicethus at least partly releases the vane rotor. The brake element isbrought into contact again with the braking surface of the first endface when the action of the pressure medium decreases. The gap widthdepends on the drive-medium pressure which acts on the brake element.Consequently, during the start-up of the vane rotor, first of all only arelatively narrow gap forms--the brake element begins to be releasedfrom the end face, and, depending on the construction of the vane motor,the other end face of the vane motor is correspondingly released fromthe braking surface of the stop element--until the gap reaches itsoperating width under the action of the full operating pressure of thedrive medium, and the two end faces of the vane rotor run free.Conversely, the gap on both sides of the vane rotor is reduced again,until the vane rotor stops, when the pressure of the drive mediumcorrespondingly decreases.

If a separate brake device is provided next to each of the two end facesof the vane rotor, the corresponding further brake element on the otherside of the vane rotor is axially displaced accordingly to form the gapand likewise under the action of the pressure of the drive medium.

The brake elements can preferably be pressed by the action of a brakingforce against the braking surface of the first end face of the vanerotor or, in the case of a second brake device, against the brakingsurfaces of the two end faces of the vane rotor, the braking forceexpediently being produced mechanically by means of spring elements.

The brake elements as well as the stop element are preferably made ofbrake-lining material. As an alternative, sintered metal is alsoconceivable.

So that the pressure space of the vane rotor still remains sealed offfluidically from its environment, provision is made as a developmentaccording to the invention for both the brake element of the brakingdevices and the stop element to be provided with annular seals arrangedon their circumference.

A very important development of the invention consists in the fact thata piston ring, which is arranged in the brake element, specifically onthe side remote from the corresponding end face of the vane rotor, isconnected both to adjusting screws and to the spring elements producingthe braking force, the spring force of the spring elements being variedby means of the adjusting screws. The adjusting screws allow the brakingforce to be adjusted and likewise also readjusted in a very simplemanner without the casing having to be opened for this purpose.

An especially important development of the invention consists in thefact that at least one of the two bearings of the vane rotor is arrangeddirectly in the brake element and therefore, contrary to the previoustype of construction, participates together with the brake element inthe axial displacements which result during operation of the vane motor.

A further advantageous refinement consists in the fact that the casingof the vane motor does not have a separate cylinder liner for encasingthe vane rotor, but the cylinder liner and casing of the vane motor areformed in one piece. The manufacturing costs of such a vane rotor arethereby further reduced, especially as production tolerances of theinner surface of the cylinder liner are mostly compensated for onaccount of the radially displaceable vanes.

In a further exemplary embodiment of a vane motor, part of a drivecasing, which is preferably provided for a chain drive, isadvantageously integrated in the casing of the vane motor. In this case,the casing for the chain drive and the casing for the vane motor areformed in one piece and thus result in a compact type of construction.

In a further exemplary embodiment, the casing of the vane motor iscompletely connected to that of the chain drive, receptacles for loadhook and chain sprocket being provided in the casing for the chaindrive.

Further advantageous refinements can be found in the followingdescription and in the subclaims.

Several exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in moredetail below and are shown in the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows an example of application of a vane motor for a liftingappliance, arranged on a traveling crab, in side view;

FIG. 2 shows a rear view of the traveling crab in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of a first exemplary embodiment of a vanemotor having a cylinder liner;

FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of a second exemplary embodiment of a vanemotor, the cylinder liner being an integral part of the casing;

FIG. 5 shows a sectional view of a third exemplary embodiment of a vanemotor in combination with an alternative supplementary drive (shown bychain-dotted line);

FIG. 6 shows a sectional view of a fourth exemplary embodiment of a vanemotor having a part of a casing for a chain drive;

FIG. 7 shows a sectional representation of a fifth exemplary embodimentof a vane motor having, compared with FIG. 5, a complete casing for achain drive and the load-hook receptacle;

FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional view of the vane motor according to FIG.3.

An application of a vane motor 1 according to the invention is shown inFIGS. 1 and 2. The vane motor 1 is fitted into a traveling crab 2, thevane motor 1 being allocated as a drive to a lifting and lowering device3. The vane motor 1 and the lifting and lowering device 3 are connectedvia a chain drive. However, it is also possible for the same vane motorto be used for the travel drive of the traveling crab 2 as well.

The vane motor 1 (FIGS. 3 to 8) essentially comprises a casing 4, a vanerotor 5 arranged in the casing 4, and a brake device 10.

The casing 4 itself is preferably made of gray iron, a cylinder liner22' made of a different material being made in the interior of thecasing 4 (FIGS. 3, 8). The casing 4 is preferably configured in such away that the cylinder liner 22 and the casing 4 are formed in one pieceand can therefore be produced in one manufacturing step (FIGS. 4 to 7).

The vane rotor 5 comprises a rotor body and bearing journals 11, 13projecting on both sides of the rotor body. A drive pinion or a couplingtooth system 8 is additionally provided on one bearing journal 13. Bothbearing journals 11, 13 form the shaft 29 of the vane rotor 5, which inthe assembled state is arranged eccentrically to the axis of rotation ofthe cylinder liner 22, 22'.

The rotor body of the vane rotor 5 has rotor slots 9 in which the vanes6 are radially displaceably and elastically mounted.

The casing 4 of the vane motor 1 is configured in such a way that allthe components required for the vane rotor 5 can be inserted into theinterior of the casing 4 from one side. On the drive side of the vanemotor 1, first of all a bearing 15 for the further bearing journal 13together with its drive pinion 8 is to be put into the casing, and astop element 12, which is made of brake material, is to be inserted. Onits circumference, the stop element 12 has an annular seal 17, whichseals off the interior of the vane rotor 5 from its environment. A pin21 is provided for simple insertion of the stop element 12 in anaccurate position, which pin 21 is inserted into a bore in the casingbefore the stop element 12 is put in, so that at least part of the pin21 protrudes and engages in a bore in the stop element 12 in theassembled state in order to prevent rotation of the stop element 12during the rotary motion of the vane rotor 5.

By means of a fitting device (not shown in the drawing), the vane rotor5 together with the vanes 6, which are elastically mounted, is insertedinto the casing 4 and is pushed through the stop element 12 and thefurther bearing 15, so that the drive pinion 8, as shown, projects fromthe casing 4 of the vane motor 1, and an end face 26 of the vane rotor 5bears against the braking surface of the stop element 12.

The brake device 10 essentially comprises a brake element 28 having abraking surface 27, a bearing 14 arranged in the brake element 28, and aspring element 19 acting directly on the brake element 28. In this case,the brake element 28 is made of brake-lining material. As analternative, provision is made for the brake-lining material to beattached to a backing element which can be manufacturedcost-effectively. However, it is also possible for the brake element 28to be made of sintered metal or for only the side facing the vane rotorto be made of sintered metal.

To assemble the brake device 10, the brake element 28 is preassembled byannular seals 16 being inserted in grooves in the circumferentialsurface of the brake element 28. Furthermore, an annular seal which isprovided for accommodating the bearing journal 11 of the shaft 29 of thevane rotor 5 is inserted into the bore in the brake element 28. Abearing 14 which is arranged in a recess in the brake element 28 isprovided for accommodating the bearing journal 11. Acting on the endface of the brake element 28 remote from the vane rotor 5 is the springelement 19, which preferably consists of disk springs, which bearagainst a piston ring 23, which can be displaced by means of adjustingscrews 18, so that the spring force of the spring element 19 and thusthe braking force can be adjusted. A pin 20, which is arranged in acasing lid 24 and engages in the brake device 10 in the assembled statethereof, is provided in order to prevent rotation of the brake element28 in the casing. This casing lid 24 is arranged on an end face of thecasing 4, closes off the casing interior and accommodates the adjustingscrews 18 just described.

Mode of operation:

When the vane motor 1 is stopped, the brake element 28 of the brakedevice 10 is in frictional engagement with the vane rotor 5, as shown inFIGS. 3-7, and thus secures the vane rotor 5 in position.

When pressure medium flows into the pressure space of the vane rotor 5,in order to effect the start-up and the rotation of the vane rotor 5, anaxial displacement of the brake element 28 against the spring force ofthe spring element 19 produces, on account of the pressure at the endfaces of the vane intermediate spaces, in each case filled with pressuremedium, a gap between the brake element 28 together with its brakingsurface 27 and the one end face 25 of the vane rotor. During thestart-up phase, however, the one end face 25 of the vane rotor remainspartly in (sliding) contact with the brake element 28, and the other endface 26 of the vane rotor 5 likewise continues to form a friction pairwith the stop element 12.

If the operating pressure between the vanes of the vane rotor 5continues to increase, the gap between the brake element 28 and the oneend face 25 of the vane rotor 5--as well as the gap on the otherside--increases until the brake element 28 and also the stop element 12are no longer in frictional engagement with the vane rotor 5. The vanerotor 5 now rotates in an "axially floating" manner between the brakingsurfaces of the stop element 12 and the brake element 28.

If the pressure of the pressure medium decreases again, the gap widthdecreases accordingly, and contact again occurs between the brakeelement 28 and the one end face 25 of the vane rotor 5 on the one sideas well as between the other end face 26 and the braking surface of thestop element 12 on the other side of the vane rotor 5.

By adjustment of the spring element 19 which acts on the brake element28, the braking force which is exerted on the vane rotor 5 can beadjusted in such a way that the vane rotor 5 can always be reliablysecured in position and at the same time unhindered start-up andoperation of the vane motor is possible.

It is possible for a further brake device of the type shown in FIGS. 3-8to be arranged on the other end face 26 of the vane rotor 5, so that adirect brake opening movement occurs at both sides of the vane rotor 5.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 5, an alternativesupplementary drive (shown by chain-dotted line) is provided at the vanemotor on the drive side and can be directly flange-mounted on the casing4.

In the exemplary embodiments according to FIGS. 6 and 7, a partialcasing or a complete casing respectively is provided for a chain driveand is formed as a compact unit in one piece with the casing 4 of thevane motor 1.

Since the vane motor according to the invention is of simpleconstruction and can therefore be manufactured cost effectively, a motorwhich can be used in a variety of ways has been created, especially asthe principle for achieving the object of the invention can readily beapplied to pneumatic or hydraulic vane motors and likewise to gearmotors. It is essential in this case that the rotational speed of thevane motor can also be regulated in small steps under load by thesimultaneous and direct admission of pressure medium to the vane rotorand the brake element.

We claim:
 1. Vane motor, comprising a casing and a vane rotor mounted inthe casing, having a friction brake device which is arranged in thecasing and is intended for braking, stopping and releasing the vanerotor, characterized in that the first of the two end faces (25, 26) ofthe vane rotor (5) is part of the brake device (10) and forms a frictionpair with a braking surface (27) of a brake element (28), which isarranged next to this end face (25 or 26) and is axially movable uponactuation of the friction brake device for braking, stopping andreleasing the vane rotor (5).
 2. Vane motor according to claim 1,characterized in that a stop element (12) fixed to the casing andintended for forming a sliding pair with the second end face (26) has asliding surface, facing the end face (26), or an axial bearing.
 3. Vanemotor according to claim 1, characterized in that the vane rotor (5) isaxially displaceable, and a stop element (12), which is designed as abrake disk and so as to be in a fixed position and has a brakingsurface, is provided next to the second end face (26) of the vane rotor(5) and forms a second friction pair with the other end face (26). 4.Vane motor according to claim 1, characterized in that the brake element(28) can be pressed by the action of a braking force against the brakingsurface.
 5. Vane motor according to claim 1, characterized in that afurther brake element is provided instead of the stop element (12),which brake element is axially displaceable and is an integral part of afurther brake device and can also be pressed by the action of a brakingforce against the braking surface of the second end face (26) of thevane rotor (5).
 6. Vane motor according to claim 1, characterized inthat the brake element (28) is at least partly released from the firstend face (25) during the start-up operation of the vane motor (1) by theaction of the pressure medium fed to the vane rotor (5), so that a gapforms between the brake element (28) and the first end face (25), andthe brake device (10) thus at least partly releases the vane rotor (5),and in that the brake element (28) is brought into contact again withthe braking surface (27) of the first end face (25) by the braking forcewhen the action of the pressure medium decreases.
 7. Vane motoraccording to claim 5, characterized in that said further brake elementis at least partly released from the second end face (26) during thestart-up operation of the vane motor (1) by the action of the pressuremedium fed to the vane rotor (5), so that a gap forms between saidfurther brake element and the second end face (26), and said furtherbrake element thus at least partly releases the vane rotor (5), and inthat said further brake element is brought into contact again with thebraking surface of the second end face (26) by the braking force whenthe action of the pressure medium decreases.
 8. Vane motor according toclaim 1, characterized in that the brake element (28) of the brakedevice (10) is made of brake-lining material.
 9. Vane motor according toclaim 3, characterized in that the stop element (12) is made ofbrake-lining material.
 10. Vane motor according to claim 1,characterized in that the brake element (28) comprises a backing elementand a disk, the disk being attached to the backing element on the sidefacing the vane rotor (5).
 11. Vane motor according to claim 10,characterized in that the disk is made of brake-lining material. 12.Vane motor according to claim 10, characterized in that the disk is madeof sintered metal.
 13. Vane motor according to claim 3, characterized inthat the stop element (12) comprises a backing element and a disk, thedisk being attached to the backing element on the side facing the vanerotor (5).
 14. Vane motor according to claim 13, characterized in thatthe disk is made of brake-lining material.
 15. Vane motor according toclaim 13, characterized in that the disk is made of sintered metal. 16.Vane motor according to claim 1, characterized in that the brake device(10) contains spring elements (19) which act on the brake element (28).17. Vane motor according to claim 16, characterized in that a pistonring (23), which is arranged in the brake element 28, is connected bothto adjusting screws (18) or a threaded sleeve and to the spring elements(19), the spring force of the spring elements (19) being varied by meansof the adjusting screws or the threaded sleeve (18).
 18. Vane motoraccording to claim 1, characterized in that the vane rotor (5) runs intwo bearings (14, 15), one bearing (14) being arranged directly in thebrake element (28).
 19. Vane motor according to claim 2, characterizedin that the vane rotor (5) runs in two bearings (14, 15), one bearing(15) of the vane rotor (5) being arranged directly in the stop element(12) of disk-like design or in the casing (4) or in the further brakeelement if the stop element (12) is replaced by a further brake element.20. Vane motor according to claim 2, characterized in that both thebrake element (28) of the brake devices (10) and the stop element (12)are provided with annular seals (16, 17) which are arranged on theircircumference and fluidically seal off the space of the vane rotor (5)from its environment.
 21. Vane motor according to claim 1, characterizedin that a cylinder liner (22) which is connected to the casing (4)surrounds the vane rotor (5).
 22. Vane motor according to claim 1,characterized in that a cylindrical bore for accommodating the vanerotor (5) is formed to the casing (4).
 23. Vane motor according to claim1, characterized in that the vane motor (1) can be operatedhydraulically.
 24. Vane motor according to claim 1, characterized inthat the vane motor (1) can be operated pneumatically.
 25. Vane motoraccording to claim 1, characterized in that a gear motor is providedinstead of the vane motor.
 26. A vane motor, comprising:a casing, a vanerotor mounted in the casing, said vane rotor having at least one endface, and a friction brake device arranged in the casing for braking,stopping and releasing said vane rotor, and wherein at least one of saidat least one end face of said vane rotor is part of said brake deviceand forms a friction pair with a braking surface of a brake device,arranged next to said end face, and wherein said brake device is axiallymovable upon activating said friction brake device.
 27. The vane motoraccording to claim 26, wherein said vane rotor includes a first end faceand a second end face, said first end face forming friction pair withsaid brake element, and said second end face forms a sliding pair with astop element fixed to said casing, said sliding pair having a slidingsurface.